MONDAY WEIGH IN!

HEY SWEETIE,             WHO HOO!! FOUR FREAKING POUNDS.... YOUR SOON GONNA BE IN TERRITORY YOU HAVENT SEEN IN A LONG TIME AND ITS SO EXCITING.... ALOT OF WOWS ALONG THE WAY... I FEEL FOR YOUR HUBBY... MY GIRLS HAVE BEEN HAVING FINALS ALSO AND HAVE BEEN WANTING TO PULL THERE HAIR OUT ALONG THE WAY... SO STRESSFUL... BUT AM HAPPY TO SEE YA'LL HAD A NICE DATE NIGHT... MAKE A POINT TO HAVE MORE... TAKE IT FROM A OLD MARRIED WOMAN OF 29YRS LOL...

HUGS MARGE

WHOA! Awesome weight loss girl!  Good for you!  Sorry to hear you dumped again...was the mango fresh fruit or in a sauce? I am way to afraid of dumping and/or vomitting that I am chicken to try anything new. Lord knows I am getting sick of chicken and turkey...I want to much to try beef, but I know I better wait to get the MD green light.  How long was it before you could have beef.  What about ham & pork...does that enter the diet at some point?  Have another great week next week!   HUGS  Jeanine

Mango was fresh - I seem to really be sensitive to sugar in fruit and just have a little - like the equivalent to about 1/3 an apple.  I've had mango from that restaurant before, I always order soup and then we usually order some mango and sticky rice for dessert.  I don't eat the sticky rice, except sometimes the smallest taste because I miss it.  We are regulars though, so it seems like they are giving us larger portions each time we go.  Oy!  This is something I would have appreciated before surgery but now I eat my half of the mango and its more mango than it used to be.  Haha, what a problem to have!  I tried beef at about 2.5 months out - but I was very hesitant, and it was extremely tender pot-roasty type beef.  All I can recommend is that when you try something new, go extra slow, make sure you are at home, and if it seems like it won't chew up well, spit it out.  Different people tolerate different things better - turkey is not great for me, chicken is fine, beef is fine, pork is iffy.  Fish is mostly ok but I don't really care for it.  Other seafood I haven't tried, but I know if its rubbery at all it can be a problem.  For pork, if its a really tender roast type thing, or pulled, its ok for my tummy, but if its a chop or ham or sausage or anything else I've tried, it hasn't left me comfortable.   I really didn't start trying anything new until about 2 months out, but I had a hard time making myself eat for a while and I also had a longer period on mush because of the second surgery and the intestinal blockage trauma.  Three months out is when I started experimenting more, and was a much happier camper once I could eat raw veggies.  I am still in veggie mode a month later.  Meat is more because I need protein than because I actually want it.  Also, with beef, I personally have a lot of trouble with hamburger, but other people don't seem to mention that one as often.  I chew and chew and it just doesn't seem to mash up as well as other things, so I'm afraid to swallow it.  I do better with a tender cut of steak (I haven't tried anything except for filet mignon butterflied and cooked medium) or a braised roast.  We are talking super tender here.  If in doubt, skip it!  Its much better than feeling bad! 

Thanks for the info hon...I did try super fork tender (practically pulverized) stew beef last night. Cut it alot and chewed alot. Alas, no problems.  One thing thats a family tradition in our home for New Years Day is the joint assembly line making of homemade calzones with boiled ham (from deli) and mozzarella. WE make them in pizza dough and deep fry t.hem.  I don't know if I would be able to tolerate the frying ( I could bake mine) but I have not tried ham yet, nor have I had any kind of bread. This is still a month away, but I don't wanna be feeling crappy on a holiday. Still, I wish I could indulge. I  see my doc 12/26 so I will ask.  Any input on this>????  LOL  HUGS   Jeanine

Hmmm definitely not fried - for a couple of reasons 1. The grease can make you dump if you are prone to dumping 2.  If you don't dump - you might be tempted to have fried things again in the future Personally, I'd bake it and just try a little of the filling at first, see how it settles and then maybe have a little more if I felt ok.  I'd skip the pizza crust unless its really crispy and then I'd MAYBE have one bite.  You don't really need those empty carbs anyway.  If the filling isn't very greasy and you chew well I bet its probably going to be ok.  I'm sure your doc will have an opinion on it.  If the ham or tomato sauce was sugary, be careful. 

I spent pretty much the entire weekend studying for my final today, and it paid off.. I aced the test!! Now I get 6 weeks off from studying and I am thrilled! I also had my work Christmas party last night and I can feel for you when it comes to compliments - lots of the spouses had not seen me since surgery and I was getting compliments all over the place. It was a bit bizarre, talking about myself all the time. But I do admit, I looked really good . Had a brand new, gorgeous dress from Kohls (a Vera Wang dress, no less!) and new shoes and felt pretty darn good. I was also voted the one most likely to date her professor - that's kind of the joke, me being single and in school this time around and I'm actually the profs age! It was a pretty funny moment. I gained this week and I'm pretty sure I know why - I've been having some sugar problems and one of my downs freaked me out a little bit, so I've been overcompensating by eating more frequently and more food, period! I think I've figured out what caused the low but I've got to say I did not enjoy it - I will have to watch it from here on out. surgery weight: 371 last weeks weight: 168 this weeks weight: 170 Have a great one everyone!! Pam

I swear, they are going to change the name of the store from Kohl's to PJ's!    There's one over the road from me, I'm going to have to go in there and see what's up (I'm not a shopper by nature). I did walk at Southwest Plaza today (what a terrible mall!) and loitered around the perfume counter at Dillard's.  Some overzealous sales clerk rushed to help me, but I told her, "I'm only sniffing." I'll bet you were smokin' hawt at your party!    That gorgeous red hair of yours really is an unfair advantage!  Kix

that's so funny because I have had another friend say the same thing about changing the name - I've been trying really hard not to go so much but I love the place! you can find great deals and I love the clothes - you should definitely check it out! I don't love Southwest plaza either - I've got Park Meadows over here, which is a beautiful mall, but it is always crowded, so I avoid it. Don't love the mall scene, although shopping is always fun . I went to a mall in St. Louis that was the ugliest mall I've ever been to - it was suppose to be one of those outlet malls, although it was an inside one. I didn't see much of a difference in the prices and it had gray, concrete floors and no map - I couldn't find a single store unless I wandered around aimlessly. I was shocked that it was so popular with everyone. Check out my new avator for the dress - well, at least the upper portion. I would put it on my profile but I know no one can get to it right now (yeah, there's a reason for that - I'll explain another time). Stay warm out there - I'm not looking forward to the drive this morning! **edited to say that my avatar hasn't quite changed yet - it's taking it's time to refresh!

HEY PJ,        DONT WORRY... YOU MIGHT HAVE GAINED TWO POUNDS BUT BET YOU WERE SMOKIN!!! IN THAT VERA WANG... I WANT A KOHLS DANG IT!! THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THAT SUGAR UNDER CONTROL... TWO POUNDS GAINED CAN BE LIVED WITH... HUGS MARGE

I am so envious~!  I can't wait to get a new wardrobe and receive a few compliments here and there.  Its been so long!  From a woman's point of view, we never stop enjoying mild flirtation and I haven't had that happen in years and I'm still relatively young.  My attitude is..."hey pal, screw you, you didn't think I was worth a second look then...you can't touch this now!" LOL...I know...I'm bad!  LOL  Don't fret 2 lbs PJ...I bet you make up for it next week!  Have a great holiday!   HUGS  Jeanine